Shaun Scott, staff photo
Eastside Bulldogs defensive back Kris Ewens is looking forward to the 2017 season on the gridiron with his teammates. The Bulldogs, who captured the NWJCFL (Northwest Junior College Football League) championship for the second year in a row in 2016, are trying to win their third title in a row in 2017.

Ewens is a dynamic force in the secondary for the Bulldogs

Flashback to eight months ago: The Eastside Bulldogs football team faced a 26-13 deficit at halftime against the Lewis-Clark Valley Loggers in the Northwest Junior College Football League championship game. The Bulldogs outscored Lewis-Clark 23-6 in the final two quarters of play en route to a 36-32 victory in the title game. Bulldogs’ defensive back Kris Ewens played a pivotal role in the title game last year. Ewens covered Lewis-Clark’s No. 1 receiver Ryan Roth throughout the entire contest.

“My job was to just follow No. 45 (Roth). He was a great player and it was a great matchup. I’m glad I was able to do it,” Ewens said.

The Bulldogs are hoping to win their third NWJCFL title in a row this season. Ewens, who will be in his second season with the Bulldogs, said team camaraderie was one of the reasons why his squad was so successful in pressure situations last year.

“At first, a lot of us didn’t know each other that well, but about three games into the season a lot of people starting hanging out together. We had that brotherhood-type feeling, which really contributed to the championship. It was a great feeling,” Ewens said.

The Bulldogs second-year defensive back expects his squad to replicate that unbridled team chemistry this fall.

“Being a team is everything. When you’re a team, you play well together and that is just what we’re trying to bring back this year. We’re definitely thinking about a three-peat (three championships in a row) but I don’t think there is pressure. I think it just comes from wanting to be able to say we did it again. I feel like that top spot is the right spot for us,” Ewens said. “There is a lot of new faces but we have a lot of old faces in key places, which I think is going to help us a out a lot this season.”

Ewens, who has already committed to playing football at Ottawa University of Arizona in 2018, is glad he has already solidified where he will be playing football after his second and final season with the Bulldogs this coming fall.

“I’m going to finish out this season strong and then head out to Arizona. Knowing I will be able to continue to play football and continue to go to school is definitely nice,” he said.

Recently, the Bellevue Reporter had an opportunity to ask Ewens a few questions about his life away from the football field.

Bellevue Reporter: What is your favorite movie of all time?

Kris Ewens: “Any Given Sunday.”

BR: What is your biggest pet peeve?

KE: Loud smackers (chewing loudly) when people are eating something.

BR: What kind of music are you listening to the most in your iPod right now?

KE: I listen to a lot of rap music. I listen to a lot of Future (rapper) and a lot of Drake (rapper) before a game to get me hyped up.

BR: If you could pick one person to go to dinner with, who would it be?

KE: Tom Brady. He is my favorite player ever.

BR: Who was your favorite sports team growing up?

KE: The New England Patriots.

BR: What is your favorite restaurant in Bellevue?

KE: 13 Coins. It is a five-star diner with a lot of breakfast food. It is really good.

BR: What is something unique about you that nobody would know?

KE: I used to play soccer. I have actually been playing soccer longer than I have played football.